A section of priests opposed the gold plating being done on the sanctum santorum of Kedarnath temple in Garhwal Himalayas. The protesting seers said that the facelift of the ancient temple is against tradition and will disturb the structure that survived harsh weather and several disasters for centuries.
The Hindu, in its edition of September 17th, has published how a Mumbai based businessman has sought permission of replacing the silver plating of Kedar temple with gold. The anonymous donor had agreed to afford all the renovation cost that would go in the process.
“People come to Kedartnath for salvation and this place is above materialistic things. What this businessmen want to show? That he is above lord?,” said Santosh Shashtri, a protesting priest who claimed that the facelift work of temple’s sanctum has been stopped after the demonstration.
Rabikant Sharma, another chardhaam teerth purohit, added that the drilling machines being used inside the temple will disturb its structure which is in the same condition for centuries.
“This temple was built by Pandavas. They had no less money even they could have made it with gold, silver or diamonds. But this place had a meaning. This renovation will change its purpose,” added Sharma.
Reacting to the protest being done by the seers, president of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple, Mr. Ajayendra Ajat said that only a handful of seers are protesting and it has not impacted the work at all. He also said that opinions of the priests are divided on this matter.
“Their resistance is unjust. The work of facelift is going on and will continue. We will take action against those who will oppose the development,” he added.
